GWSR Broadway Developments

My footage of the momentous occasion seeing Foremarke Hall heading the first public train out of Broadway in 58 years and Dinmore Manor being the first arrival of a public train into Broadway with a nicely restored goods shed in the background. Lineside Pass was needed for these shots but still very much worth it. Enjoy.

 

Wow What a momentous occcasion! And the blog bares it out for all to see: http://broadwayextensionblog.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/opening-day.html thanks jo, I've got to ask,
Were those photographers standing outside the station environs freeloading because platform tickets weren't on sale or were they genuinely taking the p*ss?.

 

Superb clip ..... thanks. Those long lens shots tend to give a very unforgiving perspective on the level of the pw!

If the weather was anything like here yesterday, not a half-bad turnout, that ..... it looks to have been a very successful day. Congratulations to all those involved.

 

No platform tickets were available, though you was allowed on the platform when no train was imminent or in the platform. If the cafe was up and running I think the non travelling public would of had full access.

 

Coverage of the arrivals and departures at Broadway ! Here's to a bright future for the GWSR !

 

Fair enough, think the volunteers missed a trick not charging people a quid or something for access to the station drive, every little helps, none of it would be there if it wasn't for volunteer labour and donations so trying to get a good photo for free is not on, especially on opening day, you can at least give something, being that you're taking pleasure from the photos in some way. you can't stop everybody but the best photos tend to be taken on railway owned land, which those bystanders appeared to be on.

 

It's a really difficult thing to judge on something like this. I understand the financial side of it, but I'm sure the railway is also aware that sticking a price on entry to the station might have put a few people off. Personally, had I been in charge, I feel the best option would have been free entry but with a suggested donation to the cause. For some reason, if you make the entry price appear optional then many more people seem happy to pay it!!

 

At the moment that would seem to be the best option, a simple sign saying access to the platform is free, but an donation to the station fund would be very much appreciated.

 

It was very cold today. And wet. And cold. At least the steam heating was working well, but it doesn't do much for you when you're standing on the platform. :/ But still a great day and great atmosphere. As a TTI I really got an increased sense of providing a transport service rather than just a train ride in itself, with lots of people living in Cheltenham taking the first train up and spending the day in Broadway, and vice versa, even in the cold! the Double Decker bus at Broadway was full every time I saw it. Now to do it all again tomorrow, in the cold, and Monday, in the cold and wet.

Did I mention it was cold?

 

Or chuck in a fiver instead of a pound!

 

hello
a few photos from a cold wet but great day on friday at
www.flickr.com/photos/15931796@N00/
thanks to everyone involved in making it to broadway
regards

 

Bet its warmer in Worcestershire than in Sheffield though.

 

I think it was colder here today! It is good when the line's long enough to have different weather at each end though, even if it is just a variation on either especially eetbot especially cold.

 

put more layers on then boy, joking apart I know what you mean, I can leave the sunny warm Sussex coast( ok only sometimes) drive to my brothers in Swindon, and its flipping cold there. as I said previously I will be visiting sometime this year when I'm down in Swindon, I'm trying to convince my brothers family its a good day out , my great niece like Thomas, and I'm trying to convince her bigger is better , I'm trying to infect her with big chufferitis

 

I put a jumper on, that's more than I normally need even during Santa trains! Ah well, weather was a bit kinder for us today. The commercial department seem happy so loadings must be decent. The free bus into Broadway was full again ever time I saw it, and with the nicer weather a fair few walking too. Definitely providing a service, not just a train ride in itself, makes it feel all the more worthwhile somehow.

There will be a minibus operating between the station and village for this week for a fare to better gauge interest for a more regular service so there are steps being made in that direction.

 

Some good local press coverage

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids/steam-ahead-first-train-departs-1405713

David R

 

Broadway is an attraction in its own right so a bus service from the town to the station sounds like a good move are there any vintage bus companies that might be interested in operating a service ?

 

Had a trip to Broadway and Broadway station today, saw Dinmore manor running, very impressed. Haven't travelled there by train yet (will do so), but was good to see the station now its open. Clearly more work is needed to finish it but what has been done so far looks excellent. Strange for a heritage line that is all looks so new even the track and ballast, will look better once everything has weathered a bit and bits added like posters and signs etc. Was a routemaster bus running free trips into Broadway itself so had a ride on it both ways. First time I went to the site about 16 years ago was nothing there apart from the rusty bridge, hard to believe now.

At the moment cars are parking for free along the station road myself included, but wonder how long before that bit gets double yellow lines.
Trains looked busy. Really well done to all those that have worked on it.

 

One thing I will say from looking at the various youtube videos of events at Broadway, Really noticeable that the goods shed there is now part of the Caravan Park. I wonder whether there will be a few regrets now about the GWR selling it off. ? At least it still exists.
I was impressed that for the station building they have used the correct rounded style corner bricks on all the windows. Were these specially made or can they still just be bought off the shelf ?

 

I seem to recall that all the shaped corner bricks were special order, as were the intricate shapes needed for the corbelling and arch tops. As for everything looking so new, including the track, for me, that fits in with the station being presented in its just completed Edwardian condition.
Blooming rain again up there this morning. Ah well- as long as long the trains are filling, they'll be plenty more sunny days to come.